Ancient Empires

Egypt
The Old Kingdom(2700 - 2200BC)
Great Pyramid - 100,000 people - 20 years
The Middle Kingdom(2050 - 1652BC)
Egyptians developed hieroglyphics as their writing style
The Rosetta Stone
The New Kingdom(1567 - 1085BC)
After 1000BC, Egypt never dominated area
eventually conquered by Alexander, then Rome
The Hebrews
Hebrews founded and spread Judaism
wrote the Old Testament of the Bible
had been enslaved by Egyptians
tradition states that Moses leads them out of Egypt(“Exodus”) into
Palestine
by 1100BC, the Israelites are living around Palestine
Saul was the first King
His son David conquered Jerusalem
Solomon builds Temple that housed Ark of the Covenant
Kingdom is split into Israel(north) and Judah(south)
Israel is conquered by the Assyrians
Jews will eventually live under the Persian empire until Greek conquests
Beliefs of Judaism
Jews are monotheistic
they believe there is one god, Yahweh(“he causes to be”)
Believe that God created everything
God rules the world actively
God expects goodness, or will punish people
The Torah is the law code of the Jewish people
covenant - special bond between Jews and God
covenant fulfilled by obeying laws of God
Prophets sent by God to deliver his word
Judaism set goals of peace and justice for Western Civ.
The Greeks
Greek city-states(750 - 500BC)
Greeks reemerged around the polis
Group of citizens who made political, military, social decisions
usually met on a hill in the center of the city
Acropolis in Athens
relied on subservience to the state
Hoplites(Phalanx) made Greeks more effective fighters
highly organized infantry that relied on shields and spears
again relied upon dedication to the group
helped to break power of aristocratic cavalry
 Tyrants came to power in fifth and sixth centuries
Polis made kings merely ceremonial figures
aristocrats, merchants, and peasants compete in polis
Tyrants were leaders who unconstitutionally gained power
usually had support of people against aristocrats
Heirs to tyrants were usually spoiled, cruel, and disliked
Tyrants destroyed aristocratic power, paved way for democracy

Classical Greece(500 - 338BC)

The Persian Wars
Athenian Empire
The Great Peloponnesian War(431 - 404 BC)
Classical Greek Culture
History
Herodotus is the “father of history”
writes the History of the Persian Wars
systematic analysis of past events
Thucydides surpassed Herodotus as a historian
writes History of Peloponnesian Wars
did not turn to Gods as explanations
Philosophy
Sophists emphasized the study of human behavior
believed that rhetoric was important skill
served as wandering teachers
Socrates
used question and answer philosophy to teach
questioning of Athenian politics lead to his death
Plato was his most accomplished pupil
Plato
believed that philosophy was purest form of thought
taught that reason was necessary to understand life
wrote The Republic
believed that happiness came from discovering ideal Forms
est. the Academy in Athens
Aristotle was most accomplished pupil
Aristotle
rejected Plato as being to abstract and restrictive
emphasized reason over Forms
studied a wide variety of subjects
served as tutor to Alexander the Great

Alexander the Great

Macedonians take advantage of Greek weakness
Alexander succeeds his father at age 20
already a general and quickly solidifies reign
Conquests of Alexander the Great
 conquered Persian Empire, Egypt, and into India
troops then rebel and Alexander agrees to return home
June, 323 BC - Alexander’s dies at age 32
Alexander’s World
Alexander viewed himself as a god and tried to build a new nation
encouraged settlements of Greeks and mixing cultures
Alexander had cities built across the empire
most named Alexandria
spread Greek(Hellenistic) culture across the ancient world
Alexander’s Empire splinters upon his death, but culture remains

Roman Republic
The Republic(509 - 264 BC)
Paterfamilias - Roman family based on strength of male leader
had complete control of family’s life
imperium - “right to command”
Roman institutions based on practical reason, not ideals
Two Consuls - annually elected administrators and generals
Two Praetors - governed in absence of consuls and gave justice
also governed conquered provinces
could elect a dictator for up to six months in emergency
The Senate
group of approx. 300 elders who served for life
originally advisors, eventually have force of law
Over time, people(plebians) gain more power in republic
tribunes are created and elected to protect people from nobles
codified Roman Law
Roman Conquest
By 264 BC, Rome has conquered all of Italy
Rome extended citizenship to some conquered peoples
allowed then to control domestic affairs
Built extensive road network throughout empire
used for military travel, trade, and communication
aqueducts
The Punic Wars
Rome first large early struggle was with Carthage
Phoenician city with large trading empire
First Punic War(264 - 241 BC)
Rome and Carthage clashed over Sicily
Rome builds first large navy to move into Med. Sea
Carthage at disadvantage using mercenaries
Rome wins and takes control of Sicily, Sardinia, Corsica
Second Punic War(218 - 201 BC)
Carthage moves into Spain to compensate for loses
Hannibal raises large army and crosses Alps into Italy
defeats Roman army but can’t keep Rome
 spends years raiding Italy
Romans raise army and take fight to Carthage
Hannibal returns but is defeated
Third Punic War(149 -146 BC)
although no longer a threat, Rome destroys Carthage
Rome destroys city, kills population

Fall of the Roman Republic

Senate had come to dominate Roman life
people came to resent small group dominating society
noblis(nobles)
Tiberius and Gaius Gracchus tried to reform the republic
Tribune brothers tried political and land reform
assassinated by Senate for their efforts
est. dangerous precedent
Marius brings the Roman army into politics
successful general uses army to force land from Senate
dangerous precedent that is followed by Sulla
noblis who removes power from plebians
Civil wars destroy power of people and est Army as road to power
First Triumvirate
Crassas - military commander charged with defeating slaves
rebellion lead by Spartacus
Pompey - given command in Spain, returns hero
Crassas and Pompey elected consuls in 70 BC
return power to the plebians
Julius Caesar - sought consulship after military success in
Spain
blocked by Senate
Three generals join forces against the Senate
all three had more military success and gained power
53 BC - Crassas is killed in battle
Senate fears Caesar and backs Pompey to disarm him
Jan. 10, 49 BC - Caesar conquers Rome
“crossing the Rubicon”
Pompey flees to Greece
49 - 45 BC - Caesar defeats Pompey and Senators in battle
Pompey assassinated by agents in Egypt
Caesar gave the West the 365 day solar calendar
Effectively destroyed the Republic
44 BC - assassinated by group of Senators
The Second Triumvirate
Octavian forms alliance with Mark Anthony and Marcus Lepidus
Lepidus is quickly thrust aside
Anthony allies with Egypt and Cleopatra
Octavian defeats Anthony’s armies
 Anthony and Cleopatra commit suicide
Octavian had become supreme rule of all Rome and Republic dies
The Roman Empire
14AD - Augustus dies after 45 years as emperor
possible height of Rome, definite change of direction
The Early Empire
Augustus adopted son, Tiberius replaced him
est practice of adopting new successors
Rome’s success high dependent on strength of dynasty
Caligula(insanity) and Nero(distracted) are worst
Five “Good Emperors”(96 - 180) were other possible height
Pax Romana - period of Roman enforced peace
212 AD - every free person of Empire given citizenship
50 million people over 3.5 million square miles
The Fall of the Roman Empire
3rd Century is beginning of the end of Roman Empire
Emperors increased the size and power of Roman Army
led to fifty years of civil war and struggle for power
Persians(East), Goths(Balkans), Franks(Gaul) all invade empire
conflicts caused breakdown of Roman economy
goods seized and money debased
Rome hires barbarian mercenaries to fight instead of citizens
Diocletian and Constantine try to restore order
Diocletian reorganized empire and divided it East and West
believed that one man couldn’t rule empire
324 - Constantine reunites the Empire
gathers more power into emperor’s hands
army is again enlarged
builds new capital of Constantinople(Istanbul) for empire
will become center of Byzantine Empire
Taxes fell heavy on working classes
noble classes were exempt
many free peasants became tied to their land, worked for nobles
serfdom
410 - Visigoths sack Rome
455 - Vandals sack Rome
476 - Last Western Roman emperor deposed
Germanic Barbarian leaders began to develop new nations
The Eastern Roman Empire becomes known as Byzantine Empire
Byzantines adopt Greek Orthodox Christianity
conflict over icons leads to split
The Rise of Christianity
Roman religion had always lacked emotional aspect of salvation
6 BC - Jesus of Nazareth is born in Judea
will be executed on orders of Pontius Pilate
preached humility, charity, brotherly love
 focus on inner person rather than rules
The Apostles believed that Jesus was resurrected
believe that He died for mankind’s sins and would return
Peter founds Christian church in Rome
Paul travels throughout empire converting any person willing
taught that all men could be saved by accepting savior
100 AD - Christian churches appear in most major cities
New Testament Bible helps spread religion
Roman roads and size of empire also assist spread
Many Romans begin to fear spread of Christianity
some rituals seemed barbaric
upset that traditional Roman values were ignored
thousands of Christians were persecuted
Christianity began to form institutions
cities elected bishops as local religious heads
312 - Constantine converts to Christianity, makes it official religion
saw crosses in vision before major battle, and won
Archbishops develop by Roman province to oversee bishops
Bishops of Rome came to be known as “Pope”
head of Catholic Church based on legacy of Peter
Leo I cements position when he turns Attila the Hun back
from Rome
Popes will claim higher authority than kings
spirituality over materialism
Monasticism
monks and nuns devoted their life to God
gave up secular life for prayer, poverty, chastity
St. Benedict wrote the first rules for monks
Rise of Islam
Islam
Muhammad is born in Mecca in 570
was raised as a merchant
at age 40, Gabriel gave him a vision
told him that Allah was the one true God
monotheism
believed that he was the last of the prophets
613 - Muhammad begins to preach in Mecca
Hegira
in 622, Muhammad and followers flee to Medina
Islam, meaning “surrender to God” flourishes
Muhammad begins to conquer Bedouin lands
630 - captures Mecca
The Koran
After Muhammad’s death, his followers began to collect his prayers
only written in Arabic
Arabic spreads throughout the Middle East
 Islam spread East and West
723 - Islam spreads from Spain to India
Jihad - holy war, warriors killed in battle went to heaven
Arabian peninsula was overpopulated(more warriors)
resistance from Byzantines & Persians was weak
Islamic Culture
Baghdad was the center of the empire
first chemical laboratories
medical treatment of disease
discovered Algebra
passed along numeric system
Architecture of mosques dominates Middle East

Carolingian Empire
732 - Charles Martel defeats Muslims at the Battle of Tours
751 - Martel’s son, Pepin becomes king of the Franks to est. dynasty
anointed by priests in fusion with church
campaigned in Italy and won lands for papacy
768 - Charlemagne(Charles the Great) crowned king of Franks
fought in 54 military campaigns
conquered Lombardy, Northern Italy, Saxony, and Brittany
depended on royal estates for finances
Counts administered royal lands
had gradually become hereditary lands
Charlemagne transferred counts and traveled to lands
system worked with powerful ruler
oversaw Catholic church by filling offices and ensuring service
gave Carolingians influence with the church
Dec. 25, 800 - Leo III crowns Charlemagne Holy Roman Emperor
Charlemagne gains prestige, pope gains defender
Charlemagne encouraged scholars to study and copy classic works
source of much of our info of ancient empires
Carolingian Empire falls apart after Charlemagne’s death
843 - Treaty of Verdun splits empire amongst three grandsons
Western Franks became the French
Eastern Franks became Germans

Feudalism
disintegrating central power changed social-political roles in Europe
Lord-Vassal relationship
Vassals provided military service to lord
Lord provided vassals with land and protection
fiefdoms or manors
local manors were worked by serfs
serfs subject to noble justice
provided everything needed for population
 often included small village
Jewish traders provided rare items
wealth was necessary to outfit warriors
knights
relationships were complicated, spider web relationships

High Middle Ages(1000-1300)

Reform of the Catholic Church
papal power declined because of Italian crisis’
secular powers came to dominate the church
caught up in feudal relationships
Cluniac Reforms
monasteries rededicated themselves independently
Gregorian Reforms
Pope Gregory VII(1073 -1085) reformed the papacy
See Manchester
Pope Urban VII(1088 - 1099) developed church structures
Pope - cardinal - archbishop - bishop
Pope Innocent III(1198 - 1216) was the most powerful of popes
believed in spiritual supremacy over secular power
dominated French King Philip II and King John of England
New Monastic Orders
St. Francis est. the Franciscan order
friars took vows of poverty and traveled to convert
St. Dominic est. the Dominican order
monks who stressed scholastic work over manual labor
Sacraments brought the church into daily life
baptism, marriage, Eucharist, penance, last rites
saints and relics also took on large roles
Church began to punish heretics
Inquisition tortured and killed those who deviated from church
began by targeting new cults and Muslims
Jews were persecuted and killed in Western Europe
Homosexuality is condemned as a “sin against nature”
The Crusades
First Crusade(1095 - 1099)
French and Norman knights responded to Constantinople
reconquer Holy Land
Jerusalem falls in June of 1099
est. feudal style monarchies in Middle East
eventually recaptured by Turks
Third Crusade(1189 - 1192)
reconquest of Jerusalem motivates new crusade
Richard the Lionheart of England
some success but can’t expel the Turks
Richard negotiates access to Holy Land for Christians
 Crusades of the thirteenth century fail horribly
lack support of popes
Crusades served to stabilize Western aristocracies
also promoted economic growth of Italian city-states
1350 - Ottoman Turks capture Middle East
will initiate a new wave of invasions of SE Europe

Growth of European Kingdoms

England
Edward the Confessor(1042 - 1066) reclaims throne from Danes
Norman Invasion
William of Normandy and Harold Godwinson fight over succession
Oct 14, 1066 - William victorious at Battle of Hastings
William I organizes England as a classic feudal state
new king of England also Lord of Normandy in France
Henry II(1154-1189) expands royal power
brings Ireland into Great Britain
ruled Anjou, Aquitaine, and Normandy in France
strengthened royal treasury and royal courts
Henry’s son, King John, faces revolt by nobles
1215 - forced to sign Magna Carta
jury of peers, no taxation without consent
Edward I(1272 - 1307) brings Wales and Scotland into G.B.
English Parliament is first established
formed to approve taxes
will evolve into legislature
House of Lords: barons and clergy
House of Commons: knights and merchants
Holy Roman Empire
German princes and lords remained powerful
Holy Roman Emperor elected by princes and pope
usually selected weak rulers
princes tried to extend their power into Italy, opposed by popes
failure left Germany in chaos as well
1273 - Rudolf of Hapsburg elected HRE
birth of powerful ruling family